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US9046613B2 - Radiation detector - Google Patents

Radiation detector Download PDF

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US9046613B2
US9046613B2 US13/810,442 US201113810442A US9046613B2 US 9046613 B2 US9046613 B2 US 9046613B2 US 201113810442 A US201113810442 A US 201113810442A US 9046613 B2 US9046613 B2 US 9046613B2
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wavelength
guide
gamma
neutron
photons
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US20130146775A1 (en
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David Ramsden
Calvin Giles
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Symetrica Ltd
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01T—MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
    • G01T3/00—Measuring neutron radiation
    • G01T3/06—Measuring neutron radiation with scintillation detectors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01T—MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
    • G01T1/00—Measuring X-radiation, gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, or cosmic radiation
    • G01T1/16—Measuring radiation intensity
    • G01T1/20—Measuring radiation intensity with scintillation detectors
    • G01T1/203—Measuring radiation intensity with scintillation detectors the detector being made of plastics

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  • the invention relates to radiation detectors and methods for detecting radiation.
  • the invention relates to the detection of neutrons in the presence of gamma-rays.
  • Neutrons are commonly detected using high pressure proportional counters based on He-3 and relying on the 3 He 2 + 1 n 0 ⁇ 3 H 1 + 1 p 1 +0.764 MeV reaction.
  • Helum-3 is used because it provides good detection efficiency for thermal neutrons, having a relatively high neutron absorption cross-section (5330 barns). These slow-moving, heavily-ionizing fragments generate a high level of ionization along their tracks in the gas compared with electrons that might be produced as a consequence of gamma-ray interactions in the detector.
  • He-3-based detectors can provide relatively good levels of discrimination against gamma-radiation, except at high count-rates when pulse pile-up reduces the amplitude differences between the ionization produced by the relatively heavy neutron interaction fragments compared with that produced by gamma-ray induced photo-electrons.
  • Neutron detectors based on the use of cylindrical, high pressure He-3 are manufactured in a wide range of sizes.
  • LND, Inc. of New York USA manufacture detectors having diameters that range from approximately 10 mm to 50 mm and lengths from 60 to 2000 mm. These can provide a sensitivity of up to 1700 cps per nv.
  • He-3-based detectors a problem with He-3-based detectors is that He-3 is in relatively short supply, and is becoming ever more expensive.
  • neutron detectors based on different technologies to allow for the wider use of such detectors.
  • one area where neutron detection is a valuable tool is policing the trafficking of special nuclear materials, e.g. at border crossings.
  • Neutron detectors can be used, for example, to scan cargoes to look for neutron emission associated with the illicit transport of highly enriched uranium, or plutonium, for example.
  • the most commonly used reaction for the conversion of slow neutrons into detectable charged particles using oron involves the 10 B 5 nucleus ( 10 B 5 + 1 n 0 ⁇ 7 Li 3 + 4 ⁇ 2 +2.78 MeV). This reaction is frequently employed in high-pressure BF 3 proportional counters.
  • a gas better suited for use in a proportional counter can be used if the 10 B 5 is thinly deposited on the inner wall of the proportional counter so that the alpha-particles ( 4 ⁇ 2 ) can then escape and ionize the gas.
  • Boron-loaded scintillators have been made by combining B 2 O 2 with ZnS. Boron-loaded plastic scintillators are also available. In these the plastic material has a boron content of around 5%. However, the light yield is roughly 75% that of normal plastic scintillators.
  • a Europium-doped lithium iodide crystal has a scintillation efficiency that is roughly 30% that of sodium iodide.
  • a detector having a thickness of a few millimeters provides an efficient detector for thermal neutrons.
  • the reaction fragments from 6 Li 3 + 1 n 0 events interact with the ZnS scintillator to generate scintillation light photons which is detected by a photodetector.
  • the ZnS is commonly doped with silver to help match the emission spectrum to the peak response of typical photo-multiplier tubes.
  • the ZnS is commonly doped with copper to shift the emission spectrum to better match the response of the photodetector.
  • the lithium content of some special glasses is sufficient to provide for efficient detection of thermal neutrons within a thickness of a few millimeters.
  • the scintillation efficiency for lithium glass is not as high as for lithium iodide scintillator crystals.
  • This element has a very high neutron absorption cross section (34,000 barns) such that only thin foils of gadolinium are needed to detect thermal neutrons.
  • Some neutron detectors have been constructed by placing gadolinium foil in close proximity to a silicon detector.
  • neutron detectors there is often a need for neutron detectors to be able to operate against a significant gamma-ray background, e.g. because a smuggler may often try to mask an illicit neutron source with a legitimate gamma-ray source.
  • US 2009/0140150 discloses an integrated neutron and gamma-ray radiation detector which distinguishes between neutron and gamma-ray detection events based on optical pulse shape processing.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,040 [2] discloses a broad spectrum neutron detector based on an interleaved stack of thermal neutron sensitive scintillator films and hydrogenous thermalising media.
  • the detector of U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,040 [2] is designed to have negligible sensitivity to gamma-rays, which precludes its use in monitoring incident gamma-ray flux.
  • a radiation detector comprising: a conversion screen comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor (luminescent) material, a wavelength-shifting light-guide arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphor material and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom, wherein the wavelength-shifting light-guide comprises a sheet of gamma-ray scintillator material operable to generate scintillation photons in response to a gamma-ray detection event therein, wherein the conversion screen and wavelength-shifting light-guide comprise different layers, and a photodetector optically coupled to the wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wavelength-shifted photons and the scintillation photons.
  • the conversion screen may comprises a substrate with the neutron absorbing material and the phosphor material being in powdered form in a binding material on the substrate.
  • the substrate may be reflective for wavelengths in the region of the peak emission wavelength of the phosphor material to help to increase the number of photons emitted from the phosphor material coupled into the wavelength-shifting light-guide.
  • the radiation detector may comprise a second conversion screen disposed on an opposing side of the wavelength-shifting light-guide to the first-mentioned conversion screen such that the wavelength-shifting light-guide is arranged to also receive photons emitted from the second conversion screen as well as from the first-mentioned conversion screen, and to create wavelength-shifted photons therefrom.
  • the wavelength-shifting light-guide may comprise a sheet (plank) of a plastic scintillator material.
  • the radiation detector may further comprise a layer of neutron moderating material arranged to moderate neutrons prior to interaction in the conversion screen. This can help in detecting incident neutrons more efficiently.
  • the conversion screen and wavelength-shifting light-guide may be in the form of adjacent planar layers which may be arranged in loose (non-bonded) contact.
  • the conversion screen and/or the wavelength-shifting light-guide may have a length selected from the group comprising at least 0.1 m, at least 0.5 m, at least 1 m, at least 1.5 m, and at least 2.0 m.
  • the conversion screen and/or the wavelength-shifting light-guide may have an extent in a first direction that is greater thin its extent in two orthogonal directions by a factor selected from the group comprising at least 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 times.
  • the photodetector may comprise a wideband amplifier, e.g., perhaps having a bandwidth on the order of/around 50 to 100 Mhz.
  • the radiation detector may further comprise a processor arranged to receive a signal output from the photodetector and to process the signal to determine whether a radiation interaction has occurred in the detector.
  • the processor may be operable to identify the occurrence of spikes (which may be peaks or troughs) in the signal by identifying changes in the signal larger than a spike threshold.
  • the processor may be further operable to determine the number of spikes occurring in a time interval.
  • the processor may also be operable to compare the number of spikes occurring in a time interval with a threshold number, and to determine whether the spikes are associated with one or more gamma-ray interactions in the wavelength-shifting light-guide or one or more neutron interactions in the conversion screen based on the result of the comparison. For example, if the number of spikes in the time interval is less than the threshold number, the spikes may be determined to be associated with gamma-ray interactions in the wavelength-shifting light-guide, and if the number of spikes in the time interval is more than the threshold number, the spikes may be determined to be associated with a neutron interaction in the conversion screen.
  • the threshold number and/or the duration of the time interval may be dependent on a number of gamma-ray interactions determined to have occurred in at least one previous time interval.
  • the threshold number and/or the duration of the time interval may depend on a determined average number of gamma-ray interactions determined to have occurred in a number of previous time intervals.
  • the functional form of the dependence of the threshold number and/or the duration of the time interval on the number of gamma-ray interactions in the previous time intervals may be determined through a calibration exercise.
  • the functional form may follow a non-linear fit to results of a calibration exercise
  • the processor may be further operable to provide an output signal indicative of the nature of radiation interactions determined to have occurred in the detector.
  • a method of detecting radiation comprising: providing a conversion screen comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material, providing a wavelength-shifting light-guide arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphor material and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom, wherein the wavelength-shifting light-guide comprises a sheet of gamma-ray scintillator material operable to generate scintillation photons in response to a gamma-ray detection event therein, wherein the conversion screen and wavelength-shifting light-guide comprise different layers, and detecting photons corresponding to the wavelength-shifted photons and/or the scintillation photons.
  • FIGS. 1A to 1C schematically show respective side, plan and perspective views of a radiation detector according to an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows an oscilloscope trace representing an output signal for the radiation detector of FIGS. 1A to 1C seen in response to a gamma-ray detection;
  • FIG. 3 is schematically shows an oscilloscope trace representing an output signal for the radiation detector of FIGS. 1A to 1C seen in response to a neutron detection event when using a wideband amplifier;
  • FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows a trace for a different neutron detection event
  • FIG. 5 is similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but shows a trace a different neutron detection event against a background of gamma-ray detection events
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows a perspective partial cut-away view of a radiation detector according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 schematically shows an end view of a radiation detector according to still another embodiment of the invention
  • FIGS. 1A , 1 B and 1 C schematically show a neutron detector 2 according to an embodiment of the invention in respective side, face and perspective views.
  • the neutron detector 2 has a generally layered structure and is shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C in partial cut-away to reveal features of the different layers.
  • the face view of FIG. 1B is from the left-hand side of the detector as shown in FIG. 1A , although this is not overly significant since in this example embodiment the detector is in any case symmetric about the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1B .
  • Various layers of the detector 2 and schematically shown separated form one another in FIG. 1C for ease of representation. In practice the different layers will be directly adjacent one another.
  • the neutron detector comprises a pair of neutron absorbing conversion screens 4 a , 4 b arranged on either side of a wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 in the form of a plastic scintillator plank.
  • the light-guide 8 is coupled to a photodetector 10 , e.g. a silicon photomultiplier detector, via a conventional optical coupler 40 , e.g. a fish-tail light guide.
  • a photodetector 10 e.g. a silicon photomultiplier detector
  • a conventional optical coupler 40 e.g. a fish-tail light guide.
  • These elements of the detector are mounted in an optically opaque neutron moderating cover 6 , e.g. comprising HDPE (high density polyethylene).
  • Output signals from the photodetector 10 (schematically shown by arrows 12 ) are passed to a processor 14 for processing.
  • the processor may be internal to the main detector body, or may be external.
  • the characteristic scale of the detector is schematically shown in the figures (although it will be appreciated that some aspects of the figures are not drawn to scale).
  • the detector 2 is generally plank-like with an overall length of around 1.2 m, a width of around 13 cm, and a thickness of around 0.05 m.
  • the conversion screens (defining the neutron-sensitive active area) have lengths in this example of around 1 m, widths of around 10 cm, and thicknesses of less than 2 mm or 3 mm or so, for example, less than 1 mm.
  • the light-guide has an area broadly corresponding that of the adjacent conversion screens. The thickness of the light-guide depends on the technology employed.
  • a light-guide based on a single slab of wavelength-shifting material as in this example might have a thickness of a few cm, e.g. perhaps in the region 1 to 5 cm, for example around 2 cm or higher, 2.5 cm or higher or 3 cm or higher.
  • different characteristic scales of detector may be appropriate.
  • an areal detector size on the order of 200 cm ⁇ 10 cm could be used for a monitoring in a portal application
  • a size of perhaps 40 cm ⁇ 30 cm could be used for a portable “back-pack” detector
  • a size of 10 cm ⁇ 10 cm or smaller could be used for a user wearable detector.
  • the conversion screens 4 each comprise a conversion layer 16 a , 16 b comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a phosphorescent material mounted on a substrate 18 a , 18 b .
  • Each substrate here is an aluminium sheet with a reflective face on the side of its respective conversion layer. The reflective face may be provided by polishing the aluminium or by an intermediate coating, e.g. a diffusively reflecting white coating.
  • the mixture of neutron absorbing material and phosphorescent material comprises powdered forms of each which are well-mixed in a resin binder and spread onto the substrate, e.g. in a layer perhaps around 0.5 to 1 mm thick, and left to set.
  • the neutron absorbing material comprises 6 Li enriched LiF.
  • the phosphorescent material comprises ZnS(Ag).
  • the neutron absorbing material may be based on/include other neutron-absorbing elements, e.g. 10 B.
  • the phosphorescent material may be based on/include other phosphorescent material, e.g. using pure CsI or yttrium aluminium perovskite (YAP) in powdered/granular form.
  • the wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 comprises a plank of wavelength-shifting plastic scintillator material, e.g. based on polyvinyltoluene such as the EJ-280 materials available from Eljen Technology, Texas, USA.
  • the wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 may, for example, broadly follow any of the designs of the plastic scintillators described in EP 1 749 220 [3] or 2 019 974 [4], the contents of which relating to those designs are incorporated herein by reference.
  • the wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 is placed in loose contact with the conversion screens 4 a , 4 b so that optical photons from the phosphorescent material in the conversion screens are readily coupled into the wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 .
  • the conversion screens in this example are in loose contact and not bonded contact with the wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 such that they do not significantly disrupt total internal reflection processes within the wavelength-shifting light-guide 8 .
  • the role of the conversion layers 16 of the conversion screens 4 is to convert incidents neutrons into light.
  • a neutron 22 incident on the detector 2 may be absorbed by the neutron absorbing material by interacting with one of the 6 Li nuclei.
  • This reaction 6 Li 3 + 1 n 0 ⁇ 3 H 1 + 1 ⁇ 2 +4.78 MeV
  • These photons may be referred to as neutron interaction photons and follow the emission spectrum of the ZnS(Ag) phosphor, which has a peak at a wavelength of around 450 nm.
  • the neutron interaction photons 24 are emitted in all directions. Since the conversion layer is relatively thin, for most interaction sites the light-guide 8 presents a solid angle of around 2 ⁇ such that close to half of the phosphorescence photons 24 from the neutron to interaction that escape the conversion layer enter the light guide directly. Furthermore, there is a high chance that many of the remaining half of phosphorescence photons (i.e. those initially travelling away from the light-guide) will also enter the light-guide 8 following reflection from the associated substrate 18 . Thus a relatively large fraction of the neutron-induced phosphorescent photons 24 enter the light-guide 8 .
  • the initial directions of the photons 24 entering the light-guide 8 will be such that the majority of these photons would not be efficiently guided to the photodetector (e.g., because they enter at too steep an angle).
  • the wavelength-shifting nature of the light-guide 8 means the phosphorescence photons 24 from the ZnS(Ag) phosphor intermixed with the neutron-absorbing LiF in the conversion screens 4 may be absorbed in the light-guide plank 8 and corresponding longer-wavelength photons re-emitted.
  • the wave-length shifted photons will be emitted over a broad range of directions such that a higher number will be efficiently guided to the photodetector 10 for detection than would be the case for the phosphorescence photons 24 in a non-wavelength shifting light-guide.
  • the wavelength shifted photons which are guided along the light guide 8 are detected at the photo-multiplier 10 , and a corresponding output signal 12 generated in the usual way.
  • the output signals are passed to the processor 14 for processing to determine when neutrons are detected. For example, output signals may be compared with a threshold signal. If an output signal is greater than the threshold, it may thus be assumed that the corresponding energy deposited in the detector in sufficiently high that it is to be assumed that a neutron detection event has occurred. In this way, the number of output signal pulses meeting the threshold detection test in a measurement period provides an indication of the neutron flux to which the detector is exposed during that period.
  • an increased number of output signals meeting the detection threshold as a cargo passes may be treated as an indication that the cargo should be examined further. Further aspects of the processing of signals from the photodetector 10 are described further below.
  • the detector 2 of FIG. 1 is operable to provide sensitivity to neutrons.
  • the detector design shown in FIG. 1 is also sensitive to gamma-rays.
  • the light guide may also comprise the main scintillating detection body of an otherwise conventional large area plastic scintillator, e.g. of the kind pioneered by Symetrica Limited. Examples of such gamma-ray spectrometers are described, for example, in EP 1 749 220 [3] or 2 019 974 [4].
  • the light guide 8 of the detector 2 of FIG. 1 may broadly follow any of the designs of the plastic scintillators described in EP 1 749 220 [3] or 2 019 974 [4].
  • the processor 14 of the detector 2 of FIG. 1 is configured to distinguish between events associated with neutron interactions in the conversion screens and gamma-ray interactions in the light guide. Furthermore, the processor may be operable to derive energy loss spectra from the output signals 12 from the photodetector which are not deemed to be associated with neutron interaction events in the conversion screen, for example because the output signals do not exceed a pre-defined threshold, or based on some other selection criterion, e.g. pulse shape considerations.
  • an energy loss spectrum for these events e.g. determined in any conventional manner, could provide some information on sources of gamma-rays in the environment of the detector. This is in addition to the neutron detection capability of the detector in accordance with the techniques described above.
  • embodiments of the invention may be seen in some respects as a conventional large-plastic scintillator based gamma-ray detector to which neutron detection capability has been added through the provision of one or more conversion screens, such as those described above.
  • Gamma-ray scintillation events in the plastic wavelength shifting light guide 8 of the radiation detector of FIG. 1 typically give rise to fast single pulses from the photodetector, typically with durations of less than 20 ns. (Some gamma-ray interactions may also occur in the conversion screens 4 and these give rise to similarly fast photodetector signals.)
  • FIG. 2 shows an oscilloscope screen shot representing the output pulse from the photodetector 12 of the radiation detector of FIG. 1 for a single gamma-ray scintillation event in the wavelength shifting light guide.
  • the detection electronics in this example are such that an increase in light intensity at the photodetector results in a negative going pulse.
  • FIG. 2 comprises an upper panel showing the gamma-ray detection event on a first time base and vertical scale and a larger lower panel showing the detection event on a magnified scale (about 20 ⁇ in time base and 4 ⁇ in amplitude). Thus the full width at half maximum of the pulse is around 40 ns.
  • the vertical scale is arbitrary and not significant here.
  • Gamma-ray detection events are relatively consistent in the detection signals they produce. Most gamma-ray detection in the wavelength shifting light guide will produce signals having broadly the same characteristics as seen in FIG. 2 , although will typically be of differing amplitudes according primarily to the energy of the deposited in the scintillation event in the light guide.
  • the photodetector response seen for neutron detection events in the conversion screens 4 of the radiation detector of FIG. 1 is typically different.
  • ZnS(Ag) phosphor, as used in the conversion screens in the example of FIG. 1 is commonly reported to have a principal light decay-time of 200 ns when excited by alpha particles [5].
  • the ZnS(Ag) response to alpha particles is not this simple.
  • some reports indicate the pulse decay-time might differ from between 10 ns for gamma-ray events and 70 ns for neutron events.
  • Kuzmin et al [6] have demonstrated that light-emission for ZnS(Ag) can continue for perhaps as long as 1 ms after a detection event.
  • the output response from the radiation detector 2 of FIG. 1 for neutron detection events in the conversion screen is also complicated by what has been found to be a relatively large variation in light-emission efficiency for the screens. This variation may be due to a dependence on both the residual energy that triton and alpha particles have when they emerge from a microcrystal of LiF to interact with the ZnS(Ag) component of the screen, and the depth of the neutron interaction within the screen. These types of effect means that not only is the light output for neutron detection events relatively complex, the extent of complexity between events shows significant degrees of variation. This is demonstrated by FIGS. 3 and 4 .
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show oscilloscope screen shots representing the output from the photodetector 12 of the radiation detector of FIG. 1 for two different neutron detection events.
  • the detection electronics for the photomultiplier 12 comprise a conventional wideband front-end amplifier to allow fine structure in the output signal to be resolved, e.g. detail on a scale of around 30 ns.
  • Each of FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises an upper panel showing their respective neutron detection events on a first time base and vertical scale and a larger lower panel showing the detection event on a magnified scale (about 20 ⁇ in time base and 4 ⁇ in amplitude).
  • the full widths of the traces for the lower panels is around 20 ⁇ s
  • the vertical scale is arbitrary but consistent between the two figures.
  • the discrimination technique is based, for example, on an analysis of signals obtained from the photodetector 10 , which in this case is a conventional photomultiplier.
  • the signals are pre-processed using a conventional wideband (fast) amplifier (e.g. around 50-100 MHz) and filter circuitry to provide signals similar to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 .
  • a conventional discriminator and fast-counting system This can be implemented using, for example, an FPGA or micro-controller.
  • This circuit approach is quite different to a conventional approach based on an assumed scintillation decay time of 200 ns. For example, there may be no use of conventional scintillation-counter pre-amplifier and pulse-shaping electronics.
  • a wideband front-end amplifier for the photodetector which is able to respond both to the very fast individual gamma-ray signals (i.e. signals associated with gamma-ray scintillation events in the scintillating light-guide 8 of FIGS. 1A to 1C ), and to resolve the sub-structure in the neutron induced signals.
  • a neutron event is typically characterised by an intense train of pulses which decay in both amplitude and frequency, e.g. over time periods of up to 1 ms and beyond.
  • the characteristics of the bursts can be very variable.
  • the gamma-ray signals are typically characterised by a single fast pulse in the output signal from the photodetector, such as seen in FIG. 2 .
  • Gamma-ray signals for different events vary in amplitude, primarily according to the energy of the incident gamma-ray, but also in dependence on geometric effects, e.g. based on where in the wavelength shifting light-guide the interaction occurred. In this regard, it can be difficult to distinguish single gamma-ray interaction events from individual features in the more complex neutron interaction events.
  • FIG. 5 shows an oscilloscope trace which is similar to and will be understood from those of FIGS. 3 and 4 . However, whereas FIGS. 3 and 4 represent different responses for neutron interaction events in isolation, FIG. 5 shows a neutron interaction event occurring against a significant gamma-ray background flux.
  • the neutron interaction event is still relatively apparent from the number of strong peaks occurring in the short period immediately after the event starts, even though the later structure is lost against the gamma-ray background.
  • the variation in neutron signals discussed above means other events can be harder to identify. For example, the event represented in FIG. 4 would be much harder to see against a high gamma-ray background than the event of FIG. 3 .
  • One approach is to identify peaks in the signal, e.g. using conventional signal processing techniques to determine the number of events exceeding a predefined threshold, and to count the number of peaks occurring in successive time intervals, for example in intervals of a few microseconds or so.
  • “exceeding” a threshold is intended here with reference to the magnitude of the signals, so that for negative going pulses, the threshold is “exceeded” if the signal falls below a predefined signal level.
  • Conventional pulse counting techniques may be used, e.g. using a simple comparator for comparing the output from the photodetector (post amplification and filtering) with a trigger threshold level. An appropriate trigger threshold level may be selected through calibration.
  • the comparator output may be coupled to a digital counter which increments for each “up-down toggle” of the output to count pulses.
  • the counter value may then be read at fixed time intervals to show the number of pulses detected in the most recent time interval.
  • the number of identified peaks in the time interval may then be compared with a threshold number of peaks for the time interval. This threshold number may be referred to as a “digital” or “pulse count” threshold P for the number of peaks. If the pulse count for a given time period exceeds the pulse count threshold P it is assumed a neutron detection even has occurred. A consecutive number of time intervals for which the pulse count threshold P is exceeded may be considered as being associated with a single event.
  • the inventors have recognized that under typical conditions the initial pulse rate (pulse per time interval) at the start of a neutron event for a detector of the kind shown in FIG. 1 is typically the highest during that event and the first 5 ⁇ s might typically contain 25 or more pulses. However, there is a broad range in this and the number of peaks in a 5 ⁇ s period might range from say 8 to around 100, for example.
  • the selection of the specific digital ‘threshold’ P i.e. the minimum number of pulses counted in a time interval that is taken to indicate a neutron event) impacts on the neutron detection efficiency and the ability to suppress the effects of gamma-ray background.
  • a choice of a pulse count threshold of 25 pulses per 5 ⁇ s provides an ability to detect neutrons reasonably efficiently in the presence of gamma-ray dose-rates of perhaps up to 300 ⁇ Sv/hr.
  • a gamma correction term to the pulse count threshold discussed further below, this can provide reasonably reliable discrimination against gamma-ray induced pulse rates of 15 events in 5 ⁇ s, for example.
  • an average background gamma-ray pulse-rate may be determined by monitoring the number of pulses occurring during successive 5 ⁇ s intervals which are deemed not to relate to a neutron event (because the pulse count rate is below the pulse count threshold P).
  • the data may thus be used to derive a value for the average number of gamma-rays/5 ⁇ s (g).
  • the inventors have found more reliable results may be obtained if the pulse count threshold P is modified as a function of this value g for the average number of gamma-rays per 5 ⁇ s period.
  • the correction function ⁇ (g) may be determined experimentally by measuring changes in the determined neutron detection rate seen for a known neutron flux for different known background gamma-ray dose-rates.
  • the detector may be placed in a high-neutron-flux, low-gamma-flux environment, and the neutron detection rate measured.
  • the gamma flux incident on the detector may then be increased (e.g. by moving a gamma-ray source closer to the detector), and the digital threshold may then be raised until the detected count rate matches the benchmark rate observed at low gamma flux.
  • the gamma rate may be measured internally and this internal gamma measurement is associated with the correction to the threshold required. This can repeated for different strengths of gamma flux to build up sufficient data points to fit a function, namely f(g).
  • a function f(g) may be derived which has been helpful in improving the constancy of neutron detection efficiency against varying gamma-ray backgrounds.
  • digital threshold P 25+ ⁇ ( g )
  • g is a running average of the gamma-ray count rate for a preceding period, e.g., a preceding period of tens of milliseconds, or perhaps longer, e.g., on the order of a few seconds.
  • the averaging time for g may be selected according to the expected rate of change in background gamma-ray flux.
  • This discrimination approach has been tested and found to work well up to gamma-ray dose-rates of at least 300 ⁇ Sv/hr in a detector having a sensitive area of 0.1 m 2 .
  • the on-going measured value of g has been found to provide a good indicator of gamma-ray flux at the detector that can be used to continuously or periodically adapt the pulse count threshold P.
  • the timing intervals are unrelated to the times of arrival of neutron signals.
  • the digital threshold P may not be exceeded until the neutron signal spans the second of the 5 ⁇ s timing intervals.
  • the digital threshold can be set from the point of the onset of the neutron event. The decision regarding whether to operate in this triggered or the alternative, repetitive method can be selected on the basis of the characteristics of the particular detector design.
  • FIGS. 1A to 1C show a relatively large radiation detector in generally planar form, other shapes and sizes of radiation detector may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows in partial cut-away some components a radiation detector 72 having broadly similar functionality to that described above with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C , although in a different geometry, namely a generally circular cylindrical geometry.
  • the radiation detector 72 comprises a circular cylindrical wavelength shifting light guide 78 coupled to a silicon photomultiplier photodetector 80 .
  • the photodetector 80 is coupled to detection electronics and processing circuitry similar to that described above for the generally planar detector of FIGS. 1A to 1C .
  • An annular conversion screen 74 surrounds, and is in loose contact with, the wavelength shifting light guide 78 .
  • An outer aluminium housing 76 surrounds the other components shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the detector is schematically shown in FIG. 6 with sections of the inner components exposed, this is merely for representation. In practice the conversion screen 74 may fully surround the axial extent of the wavelength shifting light guide 78 , and likewise the outer aluminium housing 76 may fully surround the axial extent of the annular conversion screen 74 (and indeed the end faces of the detector).
  • the wavelength shifting light guide 78 may be formed of the same material as the wavelength shifting light guide 8 of FIGS. 1A to 1C discussed above.
  • the conversion screen 74 may be formed of the same materials as the conversion screens 4 described above.
  • a flexible substrate instead of a rigid annular cylindrical aluminium substrate for the annular conversion screen 74 , a flexible substrate may be used (e.g. thin aluminium or other material) which may be simply wrapped around the wavelength shifting light guide 78 during assembly.
  • the operating principles for the radiation detector 72 of FIG. 6 are similar to, and will be understood from, the above description of the radiation detector 2 of FIG. 1 .
  • signal processing techniques similar to those described above may also be used for the detector of FIG. 6 .
  • the only significant difference between the radiation detectors of FIGS. 1 and 6 is in their geometry.
  • the generally cylindrical geometry of FIG. 6 may be used, for example, in a hand held device.
  • the radiation detector may have a characteristic size of around 10 cm in length and around 3 or 4 cm in diameter so that it might be incorporated into the handle of a device. In such an arrangement a user's hand holding the device may therefore provide for additional neutron moderation thereby increasing the likelihood of neutron interaction in the conversion screen.
  • a “back-pack” size detector may be provided.
  • FIG. 7 schematically shows an end view of a radiation detector 82 having another geometric another design but otherwise having broadly similar functionality to that described above with reference to the detectors shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIG. 6 .
  • the geometry has been optimised so that the detector could be especially appropriate for neutron-scattering application. For this use it can be helpful for there to be minimal scattering before detection since event-timing can be of significance.
  • a cylindrical outer structural housing 86 supports a conversion screen 84 on its inner surface.
  • a wavelength shifting light guide 88 of generally rectangular cross section is mounted inside the conversion screen 84 and housing 86 . This design differs from the of FIG.
  • the substantial part of the outer surface of the wavelength shifting light guide 88 is not in contact with other parts of the detector. This can be advantageous in some situations since it reduces the extent to which total internal reflection of photons in the light guide is disrupted, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of light collection.
  • the inner surface of the structural housing 86 of the radiation detector 82 of FIG. 7 may be provided with a reflecting surface (diffuse or specular) to increase the number of photons received by the wavelength shifting light guide 88 from the conversion screen 84 .

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US9847215B2 (en) 2014-11-08 2017-12-19 Jefferson Science Associates, Llc Method for detecting and distinguishing between specific types of environmental radiation using a high pressure ionization chamber with pulse-mode readout
US12467887B2 (en) 2021-02-23 2025-11-11 Rapiscan Systems, Inc. Systems and methods for eliminating cross-talk signals in one or more scanning systems having multiple X-ray sources
US12450719B2 (en) 2021-07-13 2025-10-21 Rapiscan Systems, Inc. Image inspection systems and methods for integrating third party artificial intelligence platforms
US12387900B2 (en) 2022-02-03 2025-08-12 Rapiscan Holdings, Inc. Systems and methods for real-time energy and dose monitoring of an X-ray linear accelerator
US12474282B2 (en) 2022-05-20 2025-11-18 Rapiscan Holdings, Inc. Systems and a method of improved material classification using energy-integrated backscatter detectors
US20240111065A1 (en) * 2022-09-30 2024-04-04 The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Layered Scintillating Neutron Detector
US12130393B2 (en) * 2022-09-30 2024-10-29 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Layered scintillating neutron detector
US12467882B2 (en) 2023-03-17 2025-11-11 Rapiscan Holdings, Inc. Systems and methods for monitoring output energy of a high-energy x-ray source

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WO2012007734A3 (fr) 2012-05-18
EP2593813B1 (fr) 2014-04-09

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